The Gem County Youth Initiative
The Problem We Can’t Ignore
Across Gem County, too many of our kids have nowhere to go after school, limited access to facilities, and far too much idle time.
I’ve Heard the same concerns again and again:
From parents whose kids get out of school hours before they get home from work
From students who want to play sports, train, or just be somewhere safe
From coaches struggling with overcrowded gyms and limited field access
From law enforcement officers who see what happens when young people fall through the cracks
When kids don’t have structure, mentorship, and safe places to gather, the consequences don’t disappear; they show up later in the form of drug use, mischief, higher arrest rates, and lost potential.
This isn’t a discipline problem. It’s a lack-of-opportunity problem.
And it’s fixable
Investing in Our Kids. Strengthening Our Future.
What I’ve Seen Firsthand
I’ve spoken directly with Gem County teens who leave school and have nowhere to go until late in the evening because their parents work over the hill.
I’ve heard stories of 7th graders reporting to school gyms at 5:00am just to get practice time because we don’t have enough courts, gyms, or fields.
I’ve talked with deputies and officers who will tell you plainly: when kids are engaged, active, and supervised, trouble goes down.
Right now, there are organizations and programs in Gem County trying to help, but they are:
Underfunded
Understaffed
Working out of spaces that are too small or not the right fit
We shouldn’t expect volunteers and nonprofits to carry this alone.
Create Safe, Supervised After-School Spaces
Gem County has vacant and underutilized buildings, especially in Emmett, that could be retrofitted into safe, supervised youth spaces.
These would be places where teens can:
Be indoors and off the streets
Access mentorship, activities, and structured programs
Participate in recreation, tutoring, or skills based programs
Simply have a safe place to be until parents get home
A Practical, Responsible Path Forward
This isn’t about reinventing the wheel or making empty promises. It’s about leadership, coordination, and smart use of resources we already have.
Partner, Don’t Duplicate
There are already people doing good work. The county’s role should be to:
Support existing programs
Help secure appropriate facilities
Improve coordination between schools, nonprofits, and public safety
Remove bureaucratic barriers instead of adding them
Think Long-Term: A Community Recreation Facility
In the long run, Gem County should be planning toward something bigger, a YMCA-style community facility that includes:
Gym space
Indoor recreation
Meeting rooms
Youth programs
Family friendly activities
This isn’t unrealistic. It’s responsible planning.
Use Growth to Invest in the Future
As Gem County grows, impact fees should help support the strain growth places on our community, including youth services and facilities.
Growth should pay for growth. That includes investing in the next generation.
Rebuilding What Once Brought Us Together
At one time, the park pool was a true gathering place for families in Gem County. Today, we’re left with an underutilized splash pad.
My Commitment
If elected, I will make Gem County’s youth a priority; not as a talking point but as a long-term investment.
That means:
Listening to parents, kids, educators, and law enforcement
Supporting programs that work
Planning responsibly for facilities we actually need
Making sure growth strengthens our community instead of stretching it thin
The future of Gem County depends on How we invest in today’s youth. That’s not politics. That’s common sense.
We can do better.
Strong communities are built around places where families gather, kids belong, and relationships form. That should be something we work toward, not away from.